NASUWT urges gov to tackle ‘climate of intimidation’ amid far-right protests

An Inverness primary has cancelled its Christmas show after staff received racist and abusive messages online, prompting renewed warnings from NASUWT about rising anti-immigration protests at school gates.Cauldeen Primary School had planned to stage a festive musical that included a scene and a song about refugee children caught up in the Syrian conflict, according to Sky News.

The show has now been axed after the school received “negative feedback on social media”, which included “racist and abusive messages”.

The school’s decision follows a series of online incidents that, according to the union, formed part of a wider pattern of misinformation and hostility directed at schools and local communities in parts of Scotland.

NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack said the union was concerned by what he described as the emergence of anti-immigration protests outside schools and the escalation of abusive messages aimed at some primary staff in Inverness. 

He said such protests created a “frightening environment for children”, adding that they contradicted claims by participants to be acting in the interests of child safety.

He added that demonstrations and online abuse were “rooted in misinformation” about routine school activities and community support. 

He said: “These protests and the associated online abuse seem rooted in misinformation about routine school activities and local community support. It is a deliberate attempt to create a climate of intimidation and fear for migrant and refugee communities, which also creates a corrosive working and learning environment for pupils and staff.

“No teacher, pupil or parent/carer should go to a school or its surrounding area expecting to be subject to or to witness racist harassment or abuse.”

He added that the union had already asked the Scottish Government to provide extra support to schools to address far-right and extremist disinformation, warning that the spread of protests outside school gates made this support “more urgent than ever”.

NASUWT Scotland national official Mike Corbett also called for coordinated national and local action to counter disinformation and ensure that schools remain safe for pupils, staff and families. 

He said: “Concerted action is needed at a national level to address the lies of far-right populists and others, and at a local level to ensure that our schools and their surroundings are safe places for learners, staff and parents/carers. Teachers cannot be left alone to deal with these problems.

“NASUWT will not allow the spreading of misinformation and inciting violence to go unchecked and racism or bigotry of any kind must not be tolerated.”